With concerts from now through Sept. 14, Benito Antonia Martinez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny, has a large fanbase around the city (and nation, more generally), prompting James to issue this consumer alert as people travel to the San Juan shows.
"Bad Bunny is a musical icon in New York, and scammers are taking advantage of his popularity to sell fake concert tickets," said James. "People have paid thousands of dollars to travel to Puerto Rico and see Bad Bunny perform, only to be turned away at the door because the tickets they were sold were fake. Too often, scammers take advantage of big events to dupe people out of their hard-earned money, and I am urging New Yorkers to take caution when purchasing their Bad Bunny concert tickets."
The Office of the Attorney General issued a list of tips to avoid concert ticket scams, urging consumers purchasing secondhand tickets to:
- Check to see if the venue, performer, or event has an official, verified ticket purchasing or reselling source.
- If buying from a reseller, only use reputable ticket resale platforms with guaranteed refunds if something goes wrong, as illegitimate resellers could provide counterfeit tickets, or tickets for alternate locations, if they even provide a ticket at all.
- Avoid using cash, wire transfer, or pre-paid money transfer to purchase tickets, as it will be unlikely for consumers to get their money back without the ability to dispute the charge that credit card or PayPal payments allow for.
- Be wary of high-pressure sales tactics and deals that appear too good to be true. Ask questions to verify the legitimacy of the tickets, and ask to see their proof of purchase.
- Check the reputation of an online ticket broker through the Better Business Bureau and consumer complaint sites before buying from them. Though potentially more expensive, tickets from reputable online brokers come with added protections like replacement tickets or full refunds if the tickets are invalid.
- Be cautious of tickets that are printed at home, as even if it looks authentic, it may not be. Scammers could sell the same ticket to multiple buyers, meaning only the first to arrive will get into the concert. Counterfeiters may also reproduce bar codes, meaning the legitimate bar code someone who was scammed has actually belongs to someone else. Whenever possible, seek out tickets printed by the venue, rather than at home.
James asks that New Yorkers who were scammed contact her office by calling 1-800-771-7755 or filing a complaint online.
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